Surgical glove package and method of making the same



Jan. 30, 1968 1 NYE 3,366,228

- SURGICAL GLOVE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Sept. 22, 1964 FIGS I I I I I I no.2 l I I 1: I i I I 4 I g I I I m I I INVENTOR. NORMAN H. NYE

2/ M 2 I no.3 QQO WM w I ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,366,228 SURGICAL GLOVE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Norman H. Nye, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignor to hgegyl lpac Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation 0 Filed Sept. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 398,160 3 Claims. (Cl. 20646) The present invention relates to special glove packages, and to methods of making such packages.

Heretofore, it has been customary in many instances to provide a pair of rubber latex or other surgical gloves that are sold and distributed in a package and which gloves normally are used only once and then discarded. Obviously with many thousands of these gloves being used daily, it is an appreciable production problem to not only make these surgical gloves, but to package them in a manner for shipment and ultimate use, the gloves either being sterile when shipped or being able to be sterilized in their package before they are used.

US. Patent No. 3,107,786 shows one type of a surgical glove package that is in relatively wide commercial use at the present time. In this package, an inner wrap is provided by a relatively elongate rectangular sheet that has the ends thereof folded inwardly upon themselves to cover a pair of gloves that are juxtaposed in longitudinally spaced relation on the elongate inner Wrap or sheet. Then an outer sheet, which is of generally diamond shape, is manually folded around the inner wrap and the two gloves are superimposed by an ultimate longitudinal fold of the outer wrap and the inner wrap and glove contents.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved surgical glove package, and particularly to provide an improved method of making surgical glove packages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a surgical glove package making method that can be performed automatically, or by mechanical means, or at least to a much greater extent than prior art packaging methods and constructions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a surgical glove package made from sections of a longitudinally extending wrapper strip that has been folded to provide some longitudinally extending fold lines therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved glove package that can be formed inexpensively and which is adapted to provide sterile packaged surgical gloves at minimum expense.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a plan of the improved package of the invention in its process of being formed, and after a section of outer wrapping paper has been provided and a pair of gloves on an inner sheet have been placed on such outer wrapper;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view like FIGURE 1 with folding actions having been performed on the inner and outer wrapper sheet;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the folded package formed by folding the unit, as shown in FIGURE 2, longitudinally several times upon itself;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a package forming a modification of the invention and which view is similar in the stage of completion to that shown in FIGURE 1 but with the inner sheet folded in upon itself;

3,365,228 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the folded package formed from the unit shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partially diagrammatic view showing the initial steps in the method of forming the package of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 77 of FIGURE 6.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings and described in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

Generally speaking, as one embodiment of the invention, it relates to a novel rectangular surgical glove package comprising a rectangular inner sheet which is folded transversely upon itself on its top and bottom edges and has top and bottom layers with gloves received between longitudinally spaced portions thereof, which inner sheet has Opening flaps on the exposed surfaces thereof, a rectangular outer sheet enclosing the inner sheet by lateral marginal portions folded in on the inner sheet and by top and bottom portions folded in on the inner sheet, which outer sheet has longitudinally extending opening flaps provided thereon to facilitate access to the content of the package, and adhesive tape means retaining the outer sheet in a releasable folded position.

Reference now is particularly directed to the details of this structure shown in the accompanying drawings, and a novel surgical glove package of the invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. This package receives a pair of conventional rubber latex gloves 2 and 3 therein. FIG- URE l of the drawings shows that a rectangular inner sheet 4 is provided in the package and that the gloves 2 and 3 are positioned to extend transversely of this inner sheet 4 which has its longitudinal axis extending from top to bottom of the drawing when considering the drawing to be in a vertical position. Thus, top and bottom portions 5 and 6, respectively, of the inner sheet 4 are folded in over the gloves 2 and 3, respectively. The inner sheet 4 is approximately a little longer than four times the longitudinal length of the individual gloves as laid out in flat positions on the inner sheet 4 whereby the inner sheet will cover the gloves 2 and 3 and provide top and bottom layers or sheets thereover. It should be noted that the edge sections of the portions 5 and 6 of this inner sheet are folded outwardly and back upon the sheet to provide flaps 5a and 6a extending transversely of the inner wrap sheet to facilitate opening the package without touching the con tents thereof.

An outer sheet 7 is provided in the package 1 and, as a feature of the invention, this outer sheet 7 has longitudinally extending marginal portions 8 and 9 folded back upon the remainder and adjacent portions of the sheet 7, which edges ultimately forrn opening flaps or sections to again facilitate access to the contents of the package 1 while retaining the contents thereof completely sterile. FIGURE 1 clearly shows that the sheet 7 is only about twice as wide as the inner sheet 4 and only about as long hence utilizing a minimum of material to achieve a very efficient wrap. FIGURES 6 and 7 clearly show that initially a roll of paper 10 is provided and such paper is fed from the roll to move along its longitudinal axis. Thus, some suitable means, such as a pair of rolls 11 and 12 and any desired guide means associated therewith, can be used to fold over the edges 8 and 9 outwardly and back upon adjacent marginal portions of the strip of paper 10. At any suitable time after the edges have been folded into the desired position, the paper 10 can be cut longitudinally to provide the individual outer sheet 7 of suitable length to receive the inner sheet 4 and the gloves thereon.

FIG. 1 of the drawings shows that the inner sheet and associated gloves are positioned substantially centrally of the outer sheet 7 and with the longitudinal axis of the inner sheet 4 being parallel to and preferably coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the outer sheet 7 and with the transverse axes of these sheets at least being parallel and preferably being superimposed.

Usually the inner sheets 4 and its contents will be manually or automatically folded or prepared to form the flaps 5a and 6a thereon and to place the gloves therein, and the prepared unit can either be manually or automatically positioned upon the outer sheet in the central area thereof as indicated. As a part of the inner wrap, portions 5 and 6 are folded in over the gloves 2 and 3 at the fold or score lines 1.3 and 14. The outer sheet 7 in its partly folded condition as shown in FIGURE 1 is substantially twice as wide as the package prepared of the inner sheet 4 and gloves 2 and 3 so that when its exposed lateral sections and 16 are folded inwardly on the fold lines 17 and 18 upon the inner sheet 4 and its contents, the gloves are substantially completely enclosed. Or, at least the inner sheet 4 and its contents are substantially enclosed by these folded over sections 15 and 16.

To complete the package 1 of the invention, the partially formed package as shown in FIGURE 2 then has its top section 19 indicated thereon folded down over part of the adjacent glove 2 and the portion of the inner sheet extending thereover, after which then the outer sheet 7 and the assembly so formed is folded over again and again upon itself in the longitudinally downward direction to completely enclose the inner sheet 4 by the bottom section 20 of the outer sheet, as shown in FIG- URE 2. Thereafter, the package 1 can be completed and the section 20 can be retained in its folded position by some conventional member, such as a strip or tap 21 that has a conventional pressure sensitive adhesive provided thereon whereby the package 1 of the invention is formed but with the contents thereof being readily available and being presented for use by merely opening the package 1 by pulling the adhesive tape 18 free, and then unfolding the sections 20 and 19. Hence, the edges 8 and 9 are exposed and the sections 15 and 16 of the outer sheet can be folded outwardly to form a relatively large area so that when the inner sheet is opened by flaps 5a and 6a, the gloves 2 and 3 still are carried on the inner sheet 4 and are not contaminated by contact with any associated support surface or person.

In making the package 1 of the invention, it will be seen that the inner sheet 4 can, if desired, have the marginal edges or flaps 5a and 6a formed thereon by the same method as is generally shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. That is, a strip of paper from which the outer or inner sheet 4 is to be formed would be pulled from a roll and the lateral margins of the strip would be folded out and back upon the remainder of the strip by any conventional members, such as the rolls 11 and 12, and then the longitudinal paper strip would be cut into sections. Next the gloves 2 and 3 can be placed upon this paper section to extend transversely thereof after which opposed marginal portions of the inner sheet 4 would be folded automatically or manually inwardly upon the gloves 2 and 3. If desired, these gloves may be superimposed upon themselves in the original package, but preferably they are placed side by side at longitudinal portions of the inner sheet. Then the marginal sections or portions 5 and 6 of this inner sheet are folded in to individually cover the gloves 2 and 3 and have the gloves still positioned in juxtaposition but with each glove being enclosed by top and bottom layers of the inner sheet. If desired, this inner sheet can also be folded yet again upon itself to form a more complete enclosure for the pair of gloves, which enclosure would be of about the ultimate rectangular size of the finished package 1, prior to folding the sheet 7 therearound. However, normally the inner sheet would only be folded once from each end to have the portions 5 and 6 overlying the gloves 2 and 3.

In the final folding action of the inner sheet and its contents within the outer sheet, this inner sheet 4 would be folded one additional time upon itself along a medial line thereof to bring the gloves 2 and 3 into superimposed positions but with two layers of the inner sheet 4 being positioned between the rubber gloves.

It will be realized that it is a feature of the invention that both the flaps 8 and 9 of the outer sheet 7 in the package are available to facilitate opening the package without touching any of the contents thereof, and the flaps 5a and 6a are also provided to open the package completely without touching the rubber gloves or contaminating them in any manner. The package is prepared for opening the inner sheet 4 to separate the gloves 2 and 3 by merely unfolding the enclosure or package 1 shown in FIGURE 3 In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5, sections of an outer wrap 7a are provided by suitable cutting procedures so that when the lateral marginal portions 15a and 16a are folded in on the subassembly provided by an inner sheet 4a and the gloves received therein, the package assembly provides a diamond shaped marginal portion indicated at 20a in the partially formed assembly, and an indented V-shaped recess 19a at the opposite longitudinal margin of the partially folded outer sheet. Then by merely folding this outer sheet longitudinally upon itself and ultimately folding the inner sheet 4a along the medial transverse line thereof, the final package assembly 1a can be produced as indicated in FIGURE 5.

Preferably in forming both the enclosures 1 and 1a shown in the drawings, the folds to provide this closed or envelope or enclosure of the invention are so dimensioned so that they are larger than the individual gloves 2 and 3 as laid out on the inner sheet so that there is no folding of these inner gloves when forming the enclosure therearound. The gloves may be folded back upon themselves slightly, as indicated in the drawings in FIGURE 1, in the package assembly.

It will be realized that any suitable porous papers can be used to form the inner sheet 4 and outer sheet 7. These porous papers are of the type that can be exposed to sterilization conditions without damage. Hence, after the package 1 has been formed, the complete package is subjccted to conventional sterilization procedures, such as being sterilized by heat, or by being exposed to suitable oxidation or sterilization gasses. Then package 1 can be sold and shipped to its point of use and retain the contents thereof in a sterile condition for surgical use or other uses where sterile gloves are required.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved by the provision of a new and improved method of forming a surgical glove package, or the like and to the new package produced.

While two complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that:

modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rectangular surgical glove package comprising a rectangular inner sheet which is folded transversely back upon itself at its top and bottom edges and has top and bottom layers with gloves received therebetween, said inner sheet having opening flaps on the exposed surface thereof,

a rectangular outer sheet enclosing said inner sheet at right angles thereto by lateral marginal portions folded in on said inner sheet to abut without overlapping and by top and bottom portions folded in on said inner sheet so as to overlap slightly on the side over which they are folded, said outer sheet having longitudinally extending opening flaps which extend at substantially right angles to the opening flaps of the inner sheet and are provided as part of the folded lateral margin portions on the upper surface thereof which are covered by the overlapped folded top and bottom portions, and

adhesive tape means retaining said overlapped top and bottom folded portions of said outer sheet in a releasable folded position.

2. A package for a pair of surgical gloves, or the like, positioned in an inner wrap sheet having the gloves be tween top and bottom portions of the inner wrap sheet, which package comprises a rectangular outer sheet having longitudinally extending folded sections at opposed lateral margins of the sheet folded outwardly back upon adjacent portions of the sheet, said outer sheet being in length approximately twice the width of said inner wrap sheet and being only about /3 the length of said inner wrap sheet,

said inner wrap sheet with said gloves therein being enclosed by said outer sheet by being positioned substantially centrally of said outer sheet with the longitudinal axis of the inner sheet being parallel to and preferably coinciding with the transverse axis of the outer sheet, and further with the transverse axis of the inner sheet at least being parallel and preferably being superimposed to the longitudinal axis of the outer sheet, said outer sheet having its laterally opposed marginal sections folded inwardly upon said inner sheet so as to substantially abut and being folded transversely over upon itself progressively in the longitudinal direction providing an enclosure of about the width of one glove in which the gloves are positioned, and

means releasably securing said outer sheet in its folded position.

3. A method of forming an enclosure for surgical gloves and the like, comprising moving a paper strip longitudinally,

continuously folding narrow lateral marginal portions of the paper strip outwardly back upon the remainder of the strip,

cutting the folded paper strip transversely into sections,

placing a rectangular paper inner sheet with a pair of gloves therein substantially centrally of the cut paper section and parallel to the transverse axis thereof, which paper section is wider and longer than said inner sheet,

folding uniform width edge portions of the paper section laterally inwardly on said inner sheet to expose the folded back lateral edges of the strip and to cover said inner sheet with substantial abutment of the lateral edges,

folding a uniform length longitudinal marginal portion of said paper section over onto said inner sheet and over onto itself until a folded enclosure is formed by the opposite longitudinal marginal portion of said paper section, and

securing said paper section in said folded shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,184 2/1935 Burke 22987 3,107,786 10/1963 Adelrnan 206-632 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, 111., Primary Examiner. 

2. A PACKAGE FOR A PAIR OF SURGICAL GLOVES, OR THE LIKE, POSITIONED IN AN INNER WRAP SHEET HAVING THE GLOVES BETWEEN TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS OF THE INNER WRAP SHEET, WHICH PACKAGE COMPRISES A RECTANGULAR OUTER SHEET HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FOLDED SECTIONS AT OPPOSED LATERAL MARGINS OF THE SHEET FOLDED OUTWARDLY BACK UPON ADJACENT PORTIONS OF THE SHEET, SAID OUTER SHEET BEING IN LENGTH APPROXIMATELY TWICE THE WIDTH OF SAID INNER WRAP SHEET AND BEING ONLY ABOUT 2/3 THE LENGTH OF SAID INNER WRAP SHEET, SAID INNER WRAP SHEET WITH SAID GLOVES THEREIN BEING ENCLOSED BY SAID OUTER SHEET BY BEING POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF SAID OUTER SHEET WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE INNER SHEET BEING PARALLEL TO AND PREFERABLY COINCIDING WITH THE TRANSVERSE AXIS OF THE OUTER SHEET, AND FURTHER WITH THE TRANSVERSE AXIS OF THE INNER SHEET AT LEAST BEING PARALLEL AND PREFERABLY BEING SUPERIMPOSED TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE OUTER SHEET, SAID OUTER SHEET HAVING ITS LATERALLY OPPOSED MARGINAL SECTIONS FOLDED INWARDLY UPON SAID INNER SHEET SO AS TO SUBSTANTIALLY ABUT AND BEING FOLDED TRANSVERSELY OVER UPON ITSELF PROGRESSIVELY IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION PROVIDING AN ENCLOSURE OF ABOUT THE WIDTH OF ONE GLOVE IN WHICH THE GLOVES ARE POSITIONED, AND MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID OUTER SHEET IN ITS FOLED POSITION. 